Bawdsey and Bawdsey Quay lay at the mouth of the River Deben and have for many years been dominated by RAF Bawdsey, once the private estate of Sir Cuthbert Quilter it was purchased in 1936 and used as a secret research establishment and later a SAM missile base before finally closing in 1991.

The walk start from Bawdsey Quay...

It starts by following part of the Suffolk Coastal and Heaths long distance footpath from Felixstowe to Lowestoft.

Bawdsey Manor built by Sir Cuthbert Quilter between 1886 and 1910, it was purchased by the Air Ministry in 1936 for £24,000 and became RAF Bawdsey and it was here that Robert Watson-Watt and his team of Boffins invented Radar, which was to play such a vital part during the Second World War.

Looking north along the beach, on top of the cliff surrounded by a barbed wire fence is the now disused RAF Bawdsey.

Picturesque houses in East Lane.

The church of St Mary, as you can see by the size of the tower this was once a very grand church.

But the church has been rebuilt and repaired many times over the years and is nothing like its former glory.

The Old Star, I think this was probably once the village pub, how I wish it was still open today.

Walking back to Bawdsey Quay I at last came across a little bit of shade.

A lot more people on the beach when I ended my walk than when I started.

In today's heat even the ferryman has taken a few minutes to have an ice cream.

If you ever served at RAF Bawdsey and would to find or contact old friends and colleagues  CLICK HERE  for a website set up by Ray Shakeshaft to bring together Ex RAF Bawdsey personnel.